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PROLOGUE

The bloody h the air in slow motion as Trinidad’s lifeless body hit the floor was just one of the things from that day that would forever be seared into Giovanni Bravo’swas the other The ref ju after Trinidad

Trinidad lay there completely out and withinin Gio’s ears got louder as theresuscitation People in the audience stood intheir hands to theiras stunned as Gio felt He froze where he stood not even noticing that Abel and Jack stood by his side

They started CPR on Trinidad, pounding forcefully on his chest That’s when the screa started The para to pound on his chest Trinidad’s pregnant wife’s screaled to hold her back

“You okay?” Jack asked, looking very concerned

Gio glanced at hi but his eyes went back to the stretcher now being rushed out of the stadiu,” he heard himself say

“He’ll be okay,” Abel said, placing his hand on Gio’s shoulder “He just went down pretty hard”

Trinidad was pronounced dead before he ever reached the hospital Dead at only twenty-two—and Gio had killed him

CHAPTER 1

The broadcaster on the se, stood outside the ceht fro that illu anyo but still, he sat there on his Raiders beanbag, like he had for days, staring at the screen

The knock at the door was soft and he didn’t bother responding Someone opened it anyway and walked in Gio’s eyes never left the screen that now panned out, showing theof the broadcast of the services played on Trinidad had been buried days ago Gio had already watched this footage repeatedly Just like the first tiain but he couldn’t tear himself away from the television

“Hey”

Without looking away from the screen, Gio lifted his chin It was the only response he showed to hearing his best friend Noah’s voice

“Roniyou some”

“Cool Tell her I said thanks”

Noah took a step forward pulling the string above Gio’s head to turn the lights on and turned off the television “You gotta stop this, G Your mom’s worried She askedto anyway Everyone’s worried, man”